LOUISVILLE, KY – Bisons Softball faced the Bellarmine on day one of their second and final ASUN series this season. Lipscomb swept the first series between the two programs at the end of March.
Entering the matchup, the Bisons were on a five-game losing streak, winning just two of their last eleven games. Lipscomb and Bellarmine are the only two teams in the ASUN Gold Divison without a bid to the conference tournament with only one spot left. Lipscomb entered the matchup fifth in the Gold Division and the Knights sixth.
LIPSCOMB 7, BELLARMINE 2
The Knights were the first to score in the matchup, tallying two runs in the first inning.
Elle Smith was the first Bison to record a hit in the top of the second with a single up the middle. Lipscomb converted no runs and allowed no Knights to score to hold Bellarmine's lead to 2-0.
Macy Ogle led off the third with a walk and was advanced to second on a SAC bunt from
Mallory Ogle. Macey advanced once more to third on a ground out before
Alyssa Hastings sent her home on an RBI double.
Hastings kept her momentum rolling and scored on
Josey Polk's RBI single to tie the ballgame at 2-2 before heading into the bottom of the inning.
Smith put a third on run the board for Lipscomb in the top of the fourth. She singled on a bunt before advancing to second on a ground out and scoring on an RBI single from Mac.Ogle.
The Bisons struck again in the fifth when
Presley Rader recorded an RBI double to send
Brenna Sherman home, extending the lead to 4-2.
Lipscomb sealed their victory in the top of the seventh when they scored three consecutive runs. J.Polk earned a walk and advanced to third on a double from Sherman.
Presley Rader reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on the throw while J.Polk scored Lipscomb's fifth run.
Sherman had advanced to third on J.Polk's score and was sent home on an RBI ground out from Smith, sending Rader to third.
Tori Womack stepped up to the plate and singled through the right side for an RBI on a run by Rader. Up 7-2, the Bisons
The Bisons combined for a total of 11 hits inn the first game.
Brenna Sherman and
Elle Smith each batted .500 on the game with Sherman recorded two runs and Smith scoring a run to match her RBI.
Josey Polk swung 1-3, scoring one run with one RBI and earning a walk.
LIPSCOMB 2, BELLARMINE 1
Lipscomb scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth. With two outs and bases loaded,
Elle Smith recorded an RBI single for
Alyssa Hastings to put a run on the board.
The Knights evened the score in the bottom of the fifth, crossing a runner over home plate on a wild pitch. Smith took the lead back for Lipscomb late in the game, scoring a run in the top of the seventh. After reaching on an error, Smith advanced to second.
Macey Ogle singled for an RBI to send Smith home in a photo finish at home plate.
Bellarmine gave it their all in the bottom of the seventh, but the Bisons' defense held strong.
Courtney Sauer finished off her game giving up just three hits and one walk, striking two batters out.
Lipscomb's infield put it all on the line, crushing any hopes the Knights had at scoring another run.
Alyssa Hastings swung 1-2 in game two, scoring a run and earning two walks.
Elle Smith went 1-3, contributing to both of the Bisons' scores with a run and an RBI.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb and Bellarmine will close their series out with game three tomorrow in Louisville, KY. The game will begin at 11 AM CT.
